The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a directive to Amazon.com, holding the e-commerce giant accountable for the sale of hazardous third-party products on its platform. The order, affecting over 400,000 items, requires Amazon to propose measures for informing consumers and encouraging the return or destruction of these products.
Among the problematic items are faulty carbon monoxide detectors, hairdryers lacking electrocution protection, and children's sleepwear that fails to meet flammability standards. The CPSC stated that Amazon's failure to adequately notify the public and take sufficient steps to address these issues has left consumers at significant risk of injury.
Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, has announced its intention to appeal the order and present its case in court. The company, which began as an online bookstore and has since become the world's largest e-commerce retailer, maintains that it primarily provides logistics services to independent merchants and should not be classified as a distributor.
In a separate development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning letter to Amazon regarding the distribution of potent chemical peel drug products that violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. These products pose significant health risks, potentially causing skin injuries such as burns, wounds, swelling, and scarring.
This is not the first time Amazon has faced scrutiny from government agencies. In July 2021, approximately three years ago, the CPSC sued the company, compelling it to recall hundreds of thousands of hazardous products. In response, Amazon removed a majority of these items from its store and issued refunds to customers.
"Amazon failed to notify the public about these hazardous products and did not take adequate steps to encourage its customers to return or destroy them, thereby leaving consumers at substantial risk of injury."
More recently, in late 2022, the CPSC warned consumers to cease using toy magnets from a Chinese seller on Amazon.com following seven reported deaths from ingestion.
As Amazon continues to expand its operations, including ventures like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and original content production through Amazon Studios, the company faces ongoing challenges in balancing its rapid growth with consumer safety concerns and regulatory compliance.